Cane mill



c. F. SCHNUCK cwa m1.

Aug. 31,- 194s.,

2 SheatsSheet '1' Filed .Jan'. .216, 1945 Aug. 31, 1948; c. F. SCHNUCK MILL 5119a Jan. 26. 1945 Patented Aug. 31, 1948 CANE MILL Carl F. Schnuck, New Haven, Conn, assignor to Farrel-Birmingham Company,

Incorporated,

Ans'onia, Conn.,- a' corporation of Connecticut Application January 26, 1945, Serial No. 574,741

This invention relates to cane mills, and more particularly to cane mills of the three-roller type employed in the grinding of sugar cane.

The invention has to do especially with the provisions for controlling the flow of the cane juice in the regions adjacent the ends ofthe rolls. When the cane passes through the mill, 2. large quantity of juice is expressed from it, and this drops or flows to acollecting pan below therolls. As gravity carries the juice in ad'ownward direction, there is no particular problem presented in keeping the juice out of. the bearings of the top roll, but in the case of the cane roll and the bagasse roll there has been a very definite problemarising from the juice coming into contact with the smooth working surfaces associated with the journals. The cane juice has a deleterious effect upon them, especiallyvthe journal portions of the steel roll shafts; resulting in pitting and increased wear; It may, be necessary from this cause to replace one or more of thelower rolls,

and this is especially objectionable if it has to be done at a time when cane is coming into'the mill to be ground because of the deterioration which takes place in the waiting cane.

One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks by providing a cane mill having improved means for controlling the,

flow of juice in the regions adjacent the ends of the lower or side rolls.

Another object is to provide an improved juice. guard assembly for use in connection with a canegrindingroll. p ,7

v In'the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cane mill embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the mill 2 shown in Fig. 1; y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-"-3 of Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on'a" smaller scale, showing the arrangement of the end flange of th top roll with respect to the guard ring of g the bagasse roll; I g p Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig; 3; t Fig. 5 is a detail section of certain parts 'illus-. trated in Fig. 4; and

Figs. 6 and '7 are perspective sectional details of' thefpressure ringand the sealing ring; re-1f spectively.

The mill illustrated is of the usual three-roller type, having the usual housings and' ha'ving a cane" roll, a top roll and a bagasse roll inthe customary triangulararrangement. In'the drawmes, the cane roll is shownat Hlythe top roll' at 12 Claims. (Cl. -47) During the operation of the mill the side rolls' I!) and I2 rotate on fixed axes, and the top roll has movement in a substantially vertical plane under the control of hydraulic devices, one of which is indicated at l5. These hydraulic devices may be of any preferred form, and it is unnecessaryto describe them in detail. At each end of the cane roll the shaft is carried by a bearing structure It adjustable horizontally by a screw ll operating in a cap 18. Similarly, the bagasse roll has at each end a bearing member l9 adjustable by a screw 20 operating in a cap 2|.

At each end of the top roll I l the same carries a laterally projecting flange 22. This flange cooperates with a guard flangecarried by the cane roll and also with a guard flange carried by the bagasse roll. The guard flanges of the cane roll and bagasse roll are similar, as well as the other juice-excluding means used in connection with these two rolls, and the structure used in connection with the bagasse roll is illustrated in the drawings as being typical. The bagasse roll has applied to each end a guard member in the form of a ring 23 carrying a guard flange 24 that overlaps the flange 22 in the manner shown in Fig. 3 The body of ring member 23 and its flange 24 provide in conjunction a trough 25 in which juice can flow, and from which juice can, drop down into the pan l4.

The ring 23 is fastened to the end face of the bagasse roll by means of screws 26 having threaded shanks engaging threaded sockets 21 in the bagasse roll, the heads 28 of such screws being countersunk in the ring member. The ring member 23 is fitted tightly around the shaft 29 of the roll, and between the inner face of the ring and the adjacent face of the roll a gasket 30 is interposed for preventing leakage of juice from the trough 25 toward the shaft. Th flange 24 hasa substantially straight wall lying at a small angle to a vertical plane directed transversely to the roll, so that the flange conforms substantially to the inclination of a proximate inclined surface 24 on flange 22. By this arrangement the trough 25 is graduall narrowed from the top of. the trough to the bottom (Fig. 3

' Lying against the outer face 3! of ring member 23 is an elastic sealing member 32. This sealing flange 33 provided upon the bearing brass or liner 34. This liner 3t journals the roll, being made of special bearing metal and being fitted over the smooth journal portion 29 with which the shaft 29 is provided. The flange 33, by being extended laterally from the inner end portion of the liner, provides a space around the larger cylindrical portion of shaft -29 inwhich the sealing ring 32 may be placed", with 'one side surface or the seal-- ing ring against the guard ring and the other side surface against the liner.

The elastic sealing member 32 may advantageously be made of Neoprene or other elastic plastic material which will not be attacked by the juice acids. opening 35 at the center for increasing its com pressibility to a certain degree. It is held in place by a pressure member, indicated at 36, that-is preferably in the form of a metal ring divided diametrically so as to be-i=n two sections that are interconnected by suitable fastening members. In the form shown, the pressure ring comprises the sections so and 36", and1these' sections are interconnected by fastening devices 37; The

fastening devices 37 may be of the kind shown in Fig. 5, where section 36" has an endshould'er 38 iocatednear a deeper end shoulder 39 provided on the other section. In shoulder 391's a tapped socket es, and in shoulder 38. an untapped hole 4'}. screw shank 3'2"enteri1fgthe here has its threads in engagement with the threads of socket 4B. A nut 43 is screwed up on the screw shank to rasten the two'sec'tionstogether, and a lock nut 4'4 completes the assemblage. In this manner the two sections can be brought toward each other to exert the necessary pressure on theseal; ingmenib'er. I

will he noted from Fig. 4, it is'preferred' to form each or the sectionssfii, 3'6" with a shoulder 3'8at one end and ashoulder' '39 at the opposite. A

end. Thus all the ring sections which are supp'lid are interchangeable.

The pressure ring '36 may be rounded, ofiat the outer part, as indicated at 35 At its .inner part this ring is provided with a wedge whereby. it. is

adapted to spread the sealing ring laterally, and in thefo'rm shown the entire inner face 45 ofthe pressure ring is in the form of an obtuse wedge having two surfaces that meet the median plahepf the ring, as indicated at '46. These-surfaces may, as shown, present between them an angle: of 155, but this is mentioned .merely wayof example. The sealing ring may, asin the example shown, be of approximately-square cross section, presenting a normally cylindrical outer face engaged by the wedge-shaped .p'ortion vof the pressure ring. The wedge on the pressure ring is pressed, against and into'the sealing ring .so as to compress the latter to a certain extent and. deform it and spread it'laterally so thatthe side faces of the sealing'ring arebrought into .sufiiciently tight contact withtheir opposed surfaces to thereby prevent the ingress ofjui'ceor any other liquid to the larger cylindrical portion of the shaft. Thus this portion of the shaft, .and the adjacent cylindrical portion of reduced diameter which forrns'the journal, are effectively protected against entry of any liquid .into the space between the guard flange of the side roll and the associated bearing brass or liner.

The sealing ring in the form shown is .made of onelen'gth of syntheticrubber strip, the ends of which are brought together and abutted, as shown at 41in Fig. 4.

.Ihthe operation orthe m'i11,'the.action of the This member .may, have an the adjacent bearing liner.

protection of the shafts of the lower rolls or side rolls from the cane juice, satisfactory measures are *necessary, and these are provided by the present-invention. Itwill be noted that the inclined flanges-24 of -:the lower rolls overhang to a considerable extentlthe sealing structure between the base portion or body of the guard flange and Hence, if there is leakage iorspilling of juice from the trough of the side roll over the lip provided by the flange 24, the liquid will, for the most part, be carriedpast the sealing means and against the outer surface of the bearing where it win. do no harm, and in the event that there is any tendency "to leakage between the liner of the bearing and the guard flange structure, this will hev overcome by the sealing provisions previously described; Consequently the. juice is effectively prevented from reachingith'e snaftandfrom enteringthe bearing.

It is, of course, noted thatin the operation of the :mill the sealing'rin'g 32 rotates "with the associated shaft. by reasonofits 'beihg clampedthereto, while the bearing. liner, on the other hand, with Whl'C'hTth'e sealing ring is'in contact, remains in a fixed position. However, the rotation ofthe sealing ring in contact "with the liner 'isn'o't objece.

tionable, there being undue friction. -This is particularly truewhere the sealing rinscomprises rubberlike material, which. is inherently. slippery in "thepresenc'e of moisture oroiL. The journal.

portion of the shaft is supplied with oil'forproper lubrication, and the lubricant tends to, work out of. the bearing and to 'make contact with the sealing ring, and this is on'e of the factors tending to impart slipperiness to thatsur'f'aceof the sealing ring which is in' contact with the "liner.

The pressure against. the liner is suincient to.

create a seal, but .not sufficient to create undue friction, this pressure being 'regulable by the adjusting means used in connection with the pressure ring. Owing to the provisions mentioned. it is possible successfully to .use .a seal between the rotating guard member .and the bearing liner, and, vmoreover, .it is .poss'iblelsuccessfully to seal 'th'espace :between the endlface of the roll and the surface at theend ofthebearing linerso as .to prevent the access .of juice to the journal portion of the shaft. In this connection it is important to note that, while the particular sealing means above described has many advan-- tages, the invention in its broader phases-isnot restricted to the use. of any, particularmateri'al movingsin contact withthe liner provided the requisite sealing effect and the requisiteamount of slip are present.

It. will be apparent that, as the journal portions of the side rolls ,are effectively protected from. the pitting or other destructive'efieot of the cane juice, the'rolls can .be maintained'in operation for a longer time than previously without the need .ofrepairs or replacements.

While onlya single-embodiment of the-inventionis-shown in .the drawings, it sis-to be understood that tthe invention may take many different formsandthat various modifications-and changes tion and the scope of .the claims.

WhatI claim is:

1:111 a cane milLthe combination of a top roll I having anoutstanding flangeat theendfor controlling the flow of'juice a lowerroll coacting with the top roll and carrying at the endaguard member presenting-a juice trough in line with the flange of the top roll, said lower roll having an extended shaft with a journal: portion, a bearin having a liner embracing said journal portion and spaced laterally from said guard member to provide a receiving space for a sealing member, an annular elastic sealing member in said space having an inner surface inengagement with a portionfof the shaft surface, and apressure ring exerting" radially inward pressure on said sealing member whereby it is pressed laterally against the liner and against the associated guardmjember.

having an outstanding flange at the'end for controlling the flow of juice,'a lower roll coacting with the top roll and carrying at the end a guard member presenting a juice trough, in line with the flange of the toproll, said lower r011 having an extended shaft with a journal portion, a bearing having a liner embracing said journal portion and spaced laterally from said guard member to provide a receiving space for a sealing member, an annular elastic sealing member in said space having an inner surface in engagement with a portion of the shaft surface, and a pressure ring exerting radially inward pressure on said sealing member whereby it is pressed laterally against the liner and against the associated guard member, said pressure ring being shaped at its inner part to wedge into said sealing member.

3. In a cane mill, the combination of a top roll having an outstanding flange at the end for controlling the flow of juice, a lower roll coacting with the top roll and carrying at the end a guard member presenting a juice trough in line with the flange of the top roll, said lower roll having an extended shaft with a journal portion, a bearing and spaced laterally from said guard member to provide a receiving space for a sealing member, an annular elastic sealing member in said space having an inner surface in engagement with a portion of the shaft surface, and a pressure ring exerting radially inward pressure on said sealing member whereby it is pressed laterally against the liner and against the associated guard member, said guard member presenting an inclined flange having a lip overhanging the pressure ring.

4. In a cane mill, a lower roll having a shaft provided with a cylindrical portion extended beyond the end of the roll body, said shaft having a cylindrical journal portion of reduced diameter extended from said first portion, a bearing for the roll having a liner embracing said journal portion and provided at the inner end with an outstanding flange projecting laterally beyond the first-mentioned cylindrical portion adjacent the outer end of said portion, a trough-presenting juice guard member fastened to the roll body at the end of the latter and in engagement with the first cylindrical portion, an elastic sealing ring embracing said first cylindrical portion between said last-named member and the flange of said liner, and a pressure ring exerting radially inward pressure against the sealing ring in order to seal the space between the guard member and the mer.

5. In a cane mill, a lower roll having a shaft 2. fIn' cane mill, the combination of a top "ran.

6 provided? with a cylindrical portion extended be yond the end of the roll body, said shaft having a cylindrical, journal. portion of reduced diameter extended from said'first portion, a bearing forthe roll having a liner embracing said journal portion and provided at the inner end with an outstanding flange projecting laterally beyondthefirst-mentioned cylindrical portion adjacent the outer end of said portion, a troughpresenting :juice guard member fastened to the roll body atthe end of ,the latter and in engagement withthe'first cylindrical portion, an elastic sealing ringembracing said first cylindrical portion between-'said-last-named member and the flange of said liner, and a pressure ringexerting radially inward pressure, against the sealing ring inorder to 'seal the space between the guard member and the liner, said pressure ring being.

made in sections and having a wedging portion engaging the sealing ring.

6..;In a cane millya roll body, ashaft for said body having an extended cylindrical portion adjacent the end of the body and beyond said portiona cylindrical journal portion of reduced diameter, "a bearing having a liner engaging said journal portion, an annular'guard member fastened to the roll body and embracing said first cylindrical portion but leaving a space around said first cylindrical portion between the guard member and the inner end of the liner, an elastic sealing ring in said space, and means spreading said ring laterally to cause it to fill said space.

'7. In a cane mill, a roll body, a shaft for the roll body extended beyond the end of the latter, a bearing for said shaft having a liner the inner end of which is positioned to leave a space between it and the end of the roll body, a troughlike guard member in a portion of said space and fastened to the roll body, and an annular sealing device in the remainder of said space.

8. In a cane mill, a roll body, a shaft for the roll body extended beyond the end of the latter, a bearing for said shaft having a liner the inner end of which is positioned to leave a space between it and the end of the roll body, a troughlike guard member in a portion of said space and fastened to the roll body, and an annular sealing device in the remainder of said space, said sealing device comprising an annular pressure ring and an elastic sealing ring held by said pressure ring in contact with the guard member, the shaft and the liner.

9. In a cane mill, a roll body, a shaft for the roll body extended beyond the end of the latter, a bearing for said shaft having a liner the inner end of which is positioned to leave a space between it and the end of the roll body, a troughlike guard member in a portion of said space and fastened to the roll body, and an annular sealing device in the remainder of said space, said sealing device comprising an annular pressure ring and an elastic sealing ring held by said pressure ring in contact with the guard member, the shaft and the liner, said guard member having an outstanding flange presenting a free edge or lip overhanging said pressure ring.

10. In a cane mill, a roll shaft, a roll body thereon, a bearing having a liner embracing a portion of the shaft, a guard flange member attached to the body adjacent the shaft, a deformable one-piece sealing ring around the shaft between the guard flange member and the liner, and pressure means for holding the sealing ring on the shaft and spreading it so 

